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What I needed was a shower and so tired or disheveled When she finally did wake up, feeling like half afresh and clean as if I hadn’t a care in the world

I needn’t have worried Almost a day passed before Doolittle called to tellaround

"Hoill she feel?"

"Sore as hell and probably…"

"Hungry" I guessed

"Yes I should think so Accelerated healing burns the body’s resources I do belive she will be ravenous"

I sht enjoy some nice hot chicken soup?"

There was a tiny pause before Doolittle answered "My Lord I think she should like that very ot for her like a good little girl The best thing would be watching her gulp it down clueless as usual to the consequences of her actions

As I strode into the roo the soup on a tray, I caught the tail end of a conversation

"How did I get here?"

"His Majesty carried you"

"Is he burned to a crisp or sliced in half this ti "Neither," I answered

Her eyes greide I can walk quietly if I wish to, I aestured for the cook to put the soup down Doolittle bowed and both he and the cook left the room

I took aher in Her appearence had improved, but not much Her face was bloodless Dark circles puffed under her eyes, and the skin stretched tight over her face She looked like a ghost of herself Al her like this It scared me a little bit

"You look like shit" Honesty is important in any relationship

She cleared her throat "Thanks, I try"

Frail and weak, but still Kate

I picked up a bowl soup and thought about what it would mean here in this place if I offered it to her and she accepted She ht not knohat itventured…

I held the bowl out to her so she could srasped it with both hands, and burned herself

"Idiot" I sat the soup in front of her with a spoon

"Thanks"

She actually thankedwell I had half expected her to throw the soup at ht, eat it

"Did you get the surveys? They were…"

"On the dresser Shut up and eat your soup"

I pulled up Doolittle’s chair and watched her while she ate This was nice, ere together and so far had not tried to kill each other Maybe if I could just keep her quiet… Maybe if I kept feeding her

"So that’s the secret"

She looked slightly shocked No witty comeback Maybe I scared her Naw not the ass-kicker

"You okay? Gone a bit pale there"

"Secret to what?"

"Secret to shutting you up" I smiled "All I have to do is beat you till you half dead, then give you chicken soup and blessed silence"

She made a face and went back to the soup

"What did you think I meant?"

"I don’t know The ways of the Beast Lord are a mystery to a humble merc like me"

"You don’t do humble" Smart ass was more her speed

Her boas eers brushed together I held still and looked into her eyes Our faces were very close Her lips parted slightly I leaned in toward her and … She grabbed the bowl pulled away and it was as if a spell was broken Funny little mouse